Staten Island pipeline battle: Fossella fights National Grid over 2025 project

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Staten Island Borough President Vito Fossella is battling with National Grid over the proposed Northeast Supply Enhancement pipeline that is proposed for the waters surrounding Staten Island.

Fossella said he met with representative of National Grid in August at Borough Hall.

“Like many who grew up in either South or Midland Beach, or along the South Shore, we have seen the tremendous gains and improvements to the Raritan Bay. Where once, if you went into the water, Lord knows what you came out with, today there is a vibrant marine life, along with cleaner waterways,” Fossella told the Advance SILive.com.

“At the meeting, we expressed our concerns that the proposed pipeline would threaten that marine life, disturb sediment and damage the quality of water in the Raritan Bay, which is an important environmental and recreational area,” Fossella continued. “We also issued our opposition to Staten Islanders being made to foot the bill, for a project they will see no benefit from.”

While Staten Island will reap no gas benefits from the pipeline enhancement, they will experience a 3.5% increase to National Grid bills to pay for project.

According to a letter Fossella sent to National Grid, “there already exists an underground Transco gas pipeline that traverses the entire width of Staten Island.”

The enhancement will be a 17.4-mile extension that trails from New Jersey, through Staten Island waters, up into the Rockaways in Queens.

Fossella listed five reasons in the letter about why he is adamantly against the project, which he said he will “publicly oppose it every step of the way:”

• An existing pipeline already is in place. The addition would “threaten and adversely affect the fragile fish and shellfish population therein; moreover, its construction will disturb contaminated sediment on the seabed, and degrade the quality of the water in this important environmental and recreational area.”
• “Staten Island will bear all the risks and burdens while receiving no benefits. Adding insult to injury, Staten Islanders will be forced to pay a 3.5% increase for this gas and service they will never receive.”
• Were there “other alternatives” studied or suggested for the proposed project “before the sites of the Staten Island shoreland was selected?”
• “Staten Island is the ‘default’ destination for projects that are opposed or unwanted by New York City’s other four boroughs.”
• “…The construction of yet another gas pipeline in New York will run counter to the expressed law and policy of the state of New York. See the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA). That law set a statutory target of 70% renewable electricity by 2030 (CLCPA).”

Fossella inquired whether or not an alternative could be reached, but he said that “there does not appear to be a desire to do so.”

National Grid Spokesperson Alexander Starr said this to the Advance/SILive.com about the meeting with Fossella: “We were pleased to have briefed the borough president on the importance of the NESE project to the provision of safe and reliable service to New York City customers and the direct benefits to Staten Island, including ensuring sufficient electric generation to meet Staten Island’s growing demand for energy.”

The borough president is hosting a press conference on Friday, Sept. 5, alongside the boating community at Mansion Marina.